Tilting Shuttle Bale Ejector Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural baler ejector systems require multiple actuators for partial and full bale ejection, are complex, and often necessitate manual operator intervention, which increases costs and maintenance while potentially leading to mechanical failures and errors.
Innovation Solution
A bale eject system featuring a shuttle assembly with tilting means that allows for the selective ejection of one or two bales using a single actuator, reducing the complexity of mechanisms and eliminating the need for manual operation, by retracting protrusions to avoid shifting bales during reverse strokes and engaging them during forward strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators are used for partial and full bale ejection, then the ejection functionality is complete, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple actuators into a single actuator that controls the tilting of the entire shuttle assembly. This single actuator performs both partial ejection (by tilting to retract only rear protrusions) and full ejection (by tilting to retract all protrusions), thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining complete ejection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator is designed with multi-functionality, enabling it to control the tilting of the shuttle assembly at different angles to achieve both partial and full bale ejection. This universal actuator replaces multiple specialized actuators, reducing maintenance requirements and mechanical failure points while preserving all necessary ejection capabilities.
2Reliability
If protrusions are extended during reverse strokes, then all bales are engaged, but unwanted bale shifting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of protrusion extension based on the direction of shuttle movement. During forward strokes, protrusions are extended to engage and propel bales. During reverse strokes, the shuttle assembly is tilted to retract protrusions from engagement with bales, preventing unwanted shifting. This dynamic adjustment ensures reliable bale engagement only when needed while maintaining precise bale position control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the reciprocating motion itself to trigger the selective engagement and disengagement of protrusions. The forward motion automatically engages protrusions for bale propulsion, while the reverse motion automatically retracts them to prevent shifting, making the system self-regulating without requiring external control intervention.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
An ejector system (1) for a bale-forming chamber (11) comprises a shuttle assembly (2) having protrusions (5,6). This shuttle assembly (2) is able to reciprocate in order to propel at least two bales towards a discharge outlet (14). The system furthermore comprises a tilting means (3) for tilting the shuttle assembly (2) to retract a subset (6) of the protrusions from an extended position projecting into the bale-forming chamber (11) to a retracted position disposed outside the bale-forming chamber (11), thus, during movement of the shuttle assembly (2) towards the discharge outlet (14), propelling only the bale (16) present in the bale-forming chamber (11) closest to the discharge outlet (14).